He was asked by Jones if he had met with Cardinal Pell recently and denied he had.

Mr Abbott’s denial was short lived, because in just a few seconds, Mr Abbott would say: “Actually now that you mention it, I did meet with Cardinal Pell. So what? Why shouldn’t I meet with Cardinal Pell?”

Cardinal Pell’s spokeswoman said at the time the meeting was “personal”.

Days after the cardinal’s meeting with Mr Abbott, Cardinal Pell put out a statement in opposition to Labor’s education plan.

At the time, Mr Abbott’s supposed meeting just 10 days before sparked a national debate on the influence of religion in politics and whether the two could mix in harmony.

In a later interview with 3AW in 2013, Mr Abbott said despite having not seen the report, “I have a lot of time for George Pell. Does that mean that he’s perfect? No. Does that mean he doesn’t bear some responsibility for the errors of the church? Of course not. My understanding is that the first senior cleric who took this issue very seriously is Cardinal Pell.

“He is, in my judgment, a fine human being.

Cardinal Pell has been summonsed to appear at a filing hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on July 18. The 76-year-old released a short statement where he declared he would return to Australia from the Vatican to answer the charges — as long as he was cleared to travel by doctors.

“Cardinal Pell will return to Australia, as soon as possible, to clear his name following advice and approval by his doctors who will also advise on his travel arrangements.”

The statement issued by the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney said he “strenuously” denied the charges.

“[Cardinal Pell] said he is looking forward to his day in court and will defend the charges vigorously.”

The Chaser would eventually write their own comedic take on the interview disaster with Mr Abbott.

Cassidy UluruKirby got caught red handed in a comonweath car picking up young boys for sex , And no charge . They are protected from the top

Cassidy UluruAfter Kirby and Robinson raped me I was 14 , but at 16 they tryed again , But they ended up the victim but they had me charged big time You hit one of them I hit Kirby after he attempted to run me over on His GT Clubman , I fell into his car , They have me charged with stealing his car robery with violance , and 3 charges of greaves bodly harm , They send me the Perth supreme court with a prosecutor as my lawyer , And I get in prisoned I was only 16 the judge new it was a stitch up they all new , but Kirby and Robinson was in the club , now high degree temple order Freemasons , That was not the end this evil men have been stitching me up for years

Cassidy UluruThey had me stone walled , I am unable to make a police report , So with the help of my wife we wrote a book 3 years to do painful memories Only to have one of Kirby’s Queen rover scouts Matthew Fowler steal it then set me up with his aligations to the mental health act yes controlled by the attorney general they sent Star force officers to get me And locked me away in Glenside , SA

Cassidy UluruI have prayed and hoped one day these people would be exposed , in the hope others don’t suffer as I have because of the evil actions and ordering police officers to cover up for them this is not justice

Cassidy UluruI have about 200 video clips well hidden , that God will be revealed one day , Most have no idea how corrupt or system is Like While I don’t have factural evidance who ordered the murder if Coryan Rayney I suspect Kirby , But I do know who drugged me very early that morning , and drove me in a Goverment vehicle , to dump me at her grave site , Agent Robert Harry Wales , and Agent Jennifer Stokes , and Ex SAS Stg. Clyed Lyndon Allen was waiting , While the west Australian goverment spends over 20 million of tax payers money on dodgy investigation ,I gave a 12 page report to the conmisionor , and end up with my best friends body parts planted in a box on my farm , This is only a small part but those at the very top are very corrupt I know